Ask Sarah
Do you need help with a skin complaint?**
Sarah Brown founded Pai after years of suffering from skin allergies and irritations.
Dry Skin in Finland
Dear Sarah,
I have suffered dry and atopic skin my whole life.
In addition my thyroid gland is working insufficiently, which contributes to my skin dryness.
I have typical finnish skin type, which is dry and thin. The winter-time is especially the worst for Finnish skin.
Maikki
More Details:
Age - 39
Moisturising Regime - Morning & Evening
Dry Skin? - Face & Hands
Any Redness? - Yes
Dear Maikki,
If your skin is very dry but is thin and prone to redness I would recommend our Chamomile & Rosehip Cream for you.
This is a gentle but very nourishing moisturiser - the chamomile contains azulene which is a natural anti-inflammatory and will calm redness. The rosehip will help to strengthen the skin.
Additionally when cleaning your face avoid face washes that foam as they contain chemical detergents which are very harsh on sensitive skin and extremely drying.
The main detergents to look out for (and eliminate) are Sodium Lauryl Sulphate or Cocoamidopropyl Betaine.
Opt for a detergent free cleanser instead and use just once a day to clean your face before you go to bed.
Always read the ingredient lists on the products you're using and look out for alcohol.
This is commonly used as a preservative in natural skincare products. It often appears quite near the top of the ingredients list which means there is a lot of it in the product!
Alcohol is very drying on the skin as it strips away your natural oils.
Finally, it might be worth increasing your intake of Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3,6,9) as they are great at conditioning the skin from the inside.
Oily fish, seeds and nuts are all good sources but if your diet is lacking these foods then Flaxseed oil would be a good supplement for you.
It's best to buy in its pure oil form (you can get from most good health food stores) so it hasn't been processed.
